Who doesnâ€™t love the zesty crunch of a pickle? Before refrigeration pickling (acidic preservation) was more than just a delicious addition to a meal, it was an essential strategy for safe food storage.

Judith Sumner, author of American Household Botany: A History of Useful Plants, 1620-1900, will uncover the history of pickling with â€œreceiptsâ€ gathered from early New England cookbooks. She will explain the antimicrobial properties of herbs and spices as well as present the wide range of foods that can be pickled. Ready to pickle at home? Modern pickling recipes and methods will also be presented.Â The program will take place Saturday, October 13 beginning at 1 pm at The Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury. $25/$15 for PHA members. For directions and information visit www.pollyhillarboretum.org.